On this page you will find information about dealing with minor illness such as a high temperature, coughs and colds, headaches and diarrhoea and vomiting.
Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common form of eczema, a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked.
Atopic eczema is more common in children, often developing before their first birthday. But it may also develop for the first time in adults.
It's usually a long-term (chronic) condition, although it can improve significantly, or even clear completely, in some children as they get older.
Symptoms of atopic eczema
Atopic eczema causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked and sore.
Some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread inflamed skin all over the body.
Inflamed skin can become red on lighter skin, and darker brown, purple or grey on darker skin. This can also be more difficult to see on darker skin.
Although atopic eczema can affect any part of the body, it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.
People with atopic eczema usually have periods when symptoms are less noticeable, as well as periods when symptoms become more severe (flare-ups).
Treating atopic eczema
Treatment for atopic eczema can help to relieve the symptoms and many cases improve over time.
But there's currently no cure and severe eczema often has a significant impact on daily life, which may be difficult to cope with physically and mentally.
There's also an increased risk of skin infections.
Many different treatments can be used to control symptoms and manage eczema, including:
- self-care techniques, such as reducing scratching and avoiding triggers
- emollients (moisturising treatments) – used on a daily basis for dry skin
- topical corticosteroids – used to reduce swelling, redness and itching during flare-ups
Constipation in children has many possible causes. Sometimes there's no obvious reason.
Some of the possible causes include:
- not eating enough high-fibre foods like fruit and veg
- not drinking enough fluids
- feeling pressured or being regularly interrupted while potty (or toilet) training
- feeling worried or anxious about something – such as moving house, the arrival of a new baby, or starting nursery or school
If your child is constipated they may find it painful to poo, which may mean they do not want to try to poo. This can create a vicious circle; the more they hold back, the more constipated they get.
Signs of constipation
Your child may be constipated if:
- they have not done a poo at least 3 times in the last week
- their poo is large and hard
- their poo looks like "rabbit droppings" or little pellets
- they are straining or in pain when they poo
- they have some bleeding during or after having a poo, because their poo is large and hard
- they have a poor appetite or stomach pain that improves after they poo
If your child is over 1 year old, soiled pants can be another sign of constipation, as runny poo (diarrhoea) may leak out around the hard, constipated poo. This is called overflow soiling.
Treating constipation
If you think your child may be constipated, take them to a GP. The treatment for constipation depends on your child's age.
The longer your child is constipated, the more difficult it can be for them to get back to normal, so make sure you get help early.
More advice is available on nhs.uk on constipation in children
ERIC, The Children's Bowel & Bladder Charity, is a UK charity for families affected by bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and soiling. ERIC has a freephone helpline on 0808 169 9949 (Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm), or you can email the service via a webform at Eric Helpline.
The UK charity Bladder & Bowel UK has produced a range of booklets and leaflets covering bladder and bowel problems in children.
Caused by viruses, colds can’t be cured by antibiotics. But you can help relieve the symptoms and support your body as it fights the virus.
It's normal for a child to have 8 or more colds a year.
This is because there are hundreds of different cold viruses and young children have no immunity to any of them as they have never had them before.
They gradually build up immunity and get fewer colds.
Most colds get better in 5 to 7 days but can take up to 2 weeks in small children.
Here are some suggestions for how to ease the symptoms in your child:
- Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.
- Saline nose drops can help loosen dried snot and relieve a stuffy nose. Ask a pharmacist, GP or health visitor about them.
- If your child has a high temperature, pain or discomfort, children's paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. Children with asthma may not be able to take ibuprofen, so check with a pharmacist, GP or health visitor first. Always follow the instructions on the packet.
- Encourage the whole family to wash their hands regularly to stop the cold spreading.
Sore throats are often caused by viral illnesses such as colds or flu.
Your child's throat may be dry and sore for a day or 2 before a cold starts. You can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce the pain.
Most sore throats get better on their own after a few days.
If your child has a sore throat for more than 4 days, a high temperature and is generally unwell, see a GP.
If they're unable to swallow fluids or saliva or have any difficulty breathing, go to A&E or call 999 immediately as they'll need urgent treatment in hospital.
Children often cough when they have a cold because of mucus trickling down the back of the throat.
If your child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there's no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about.
Although it's upsetting to hear your child cough, coughing helps clear away phlegm from the chest or mucus from the back of the throat.
If your child is over the age of 1, they can try drinking a warm drink of lemon and honey.
To make hot lemon with honey at home, you need to:
- squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water
- add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey
- drink while still warm (do not give hot drinks to small children)
If your child has had a cough that's lasted longer than 3 weeks, see a GP.
If your child's temperature is very high, or they feel hot and shivery, they may have a chest infection. You should take them to a GP, or you can call 111.
If this is caused by bacteria rather than a virus, the GP will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Antibiotics will not soothe or stop the cough straight away.
If a cough continues for a long time, especially if it's worse at night or is brought on by your child running about, it could be a sign of asthma.
Take them to a GP, who will be able to check if your child has asthma.
If your child is finding it hard to breathe, go to A&E or call 999 immediately as they'll need urgent treatment in hospital.
A child with croup has a distinctive barking cough and will make a harsh sound, known as stridor, when they breathe in.
They may also have a runny nose, sore throat and high temperature.
Croup can usually be diagnosed by a GP and treated at home.
But if your child's symptoms are severe and they're finding it hard to breathe, go to A&E or call 999 immediately as they'll need urgent treatment in hospital.
Ear infections are common in babies and small children. They often follow a cold and sometimes cause a high temperature.
A baby or toddler may pull or rub at an ear. Other possible symptoms include a high temperature, irritability, crying, difficulty feeding, restlessness at night, and a cough.
If your child has earache, with or without a high temperature, you can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen at the recommended dose.
Try one medicine first and, if it does not work, you can try giving the other one.
You should not give children paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time unless advised to by a healthcare professional.
Do not put any oil, eardrops or cotton buds into your child's ear, unless a GP advises you to do so.
Most ear infections are caused by viruses, which cannot be treated with antibiotics.
They'll just get better by themselves, usually within about 3 days.
After an ear infection, your child may have some hearing loss.
Their hearing should get better within a few weeks. But if the problem lasts for any longer than this, ask a GP for advice.
Repeated middle ear infections (otitis media) may lead to glue ear (otitis media with effusion), where sticky fluid builds up and can affect your child's hearing.
This may lead to hearing loss, which is usually temporary.
If you smoke, your child is more likely to develop glue ear and will get better more slowly.
A GP can give you advice on treating glue ear and can help you stop smoking.
Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. They're often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days. The advice is the same if you have diarrhoea and vomiting together or separately.
You probably will not know exactly what the cause is, but the main causes of diarrhoea and vomiting are treated in the same way.
The most common causes are:
- a stomach bug (gastroenteritis)
- norovirus – also called the "vomiting bug"
- food poisoning
Other causes of diarrhoea or vomiting
How to treat diarrhoea and vomiting yourself
You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Do:
- stay at home and get plenty of rest
- drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick
- carry on breast or bottle feeding your baby – if they're being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual
- give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds
- eat when you feel able to – you do not need to eat or avoid any specific foods
- take paracetamol if you're in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving it to your child
Don’t:
- do not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse
- do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength
- do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
- do not give aspirin to children under 16
Look here to see when you may need to contact your GP, 111 or 999
Most headaches will go away on their own and aren’t a sign of something more serious. 70% of young people experience a headache at least once a year. Young people’s headaches may be different to an adult’s headache.
For more information and advice when medical help is needed visit NHS - Headaches
Migraine is not just a headache; migraine can cause the following symptoms:
- Feeling sick or vomiting,
- Being extra sensitive to light or sound
- Tummy pain
- “Aura”- visual disturbances, confusion, numbness and/or pins and needles.
Migraine can easily be overlooked so you should seek help from your GP if you have any of these symptoms.
A high temperature is 38C or more.
This can vary from child to child. Some children may be ill with a lower temperature, while others may have a higher temperature and be perfectly well.
What’s most important is what’s normal for your child. You know your child better than anyone – if you’re concerned about their temperature, they probably have a fever
A high temperature is the body's natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds.
Many things can cause a high temperature in children, from common childhood illnesses like chickenpox and tonsillitis, to vaccinations.
Mild fevers are usually nothing to worry about, and can often be treated at home. They normally pass in a few days.
Do:
- give them plenty of fluids
- look out for signs of dehydration
- give them food if they want it
- check on your child regularly during the night
- keep them at home
- give them paracetamol if they're distressed or unwell
- get medical advice if you're worried about your child
- try to keep your child at home and avoid contact with other people until they do not have a high temperature
Don’t:
- do not undress your child or sponge them down to cool them, a high temperature is a natural and healthy response to infection
- do not cover them up in too many clothes or bedclothes
- do not give aspirin to children under 16 years of age
- do not combine ibuprofen and paracetamol, unless a GP tells you to
- do not give paracetamol to a child under 2 months
- do not give ibuprofen to a child under 3 months or under 5kg
- do not give ibuprofen to children with asthma
Call 111 or your GP surgery if your child:
- is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
- is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
- has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
- has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
- does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
- has a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol
- is dehydrated – such as nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they're crying
Call 999 if your child:
- has a stiff neck
- has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it (use the "glass test" from Meningitis Now)
- is bothered by light
- has a fit (febrile seizure) for the first time (they cannot stop shaking)
- has unusually cold hands and feet
- has blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
- has a weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
- is drowsy and hard to wake
- is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused
- finds it hard to breathe and sucks their stomach in under their ribs
- is not responding like they normally do, or is not interested in feeding or normal activities
Further information is available at:
Hives rashes usually settle down within a few minutes to a few days. You can often treat hives yourself. Cause/triggers can be new drugs, heat, sun, food allergy.
The hives rash can be raised patches in many shapes and sizes.
It can be in one area of the body or spread over a large area. It can appear anywhere on the body in both adults and children.
On white skin the rash may look red. On brown and black skin the colour of the rash might be harder to see.
The rash is usually itchy and sometimes feels like it's stinging or burning.
If you're not sure it's hives: Look at other rashes in babies and children.
Treatment
A pharmacist can give you advice about antihistamine tablets to help a hives rash.
Tell the pharmacist if you have a long-term condition – you might not be able to take antihistamines.
They also may not be suitable for young children.
If a drug allergy is suspected stop the medicine and speak to your GP